Card table



Oct. 16, 1934. H Q VEEDER l,977,217

GARD IABLE Filed July 29. 1952 digi ,gf l a 27a/aff @y Nys/'v ronArran/Veys neared oct. 16, i934 PATENT Aori-ica Harold G. Veeder,lSchenectady, N. Y., assigner to William S. Vecder Application .my 29,1932 serial No. 625,985

My invention relates to card tables and particularly to a table used forplaying bridge or other games in connection with which it is necessaryto keep a record of the points scored by the players. At present it isquite usual for one of the players to keep the score on a pad or sheetof paperwhich, if kept on the table, is in the way of the players, andif placed on a stand or other object at the side of the score keeper isinconveniently located.

The principal objects of myI invention are to K provide a score keepingmeans which will form a partgf the card table itself; which will beconveniently located before the score keeper and visible at all times toall of the players; and which will be flush with the playing surface ofthe table/so as to offer no interfering projections or depressions. Ifdesired, the table may be equipped with two or more of my devices spthatl each player or each team may keep score.

l With these objects in view my invention includes the novel elementsand the combinations and arrangements thereof described below andillustrated in the accompanying drawing in which- Fig. 1 is afragmentary perspective view of a table top showing my inventionincorporated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a section in the plane 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary section in the plane 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a front view of my device as seen in the plane 4 4 of Fig. 2;and

Fig. 5 is a section of Fig. 1 in the plane 5 5.

Referring to the drawing, my invention comprises a metal plate,represented generally by the numeral 1, and composed of chromium platedmetal or a corrosion-resistant alloy which is secured to the table, 2.The plate, 1, is pro-` vided with peripheral iianges, 3, and a depressedzone or platen bounded by the edges, V4, 5, 6 and 7, all of which areshown in Fig. 1 and some of which are also shown in Figs. 2 and 5. Where'the table is to be used for bridge the size of this depressed zone orplaten is preferably about 317| inches wide by 'Z5/8 inches long,although it is'to be understood that it may be of any size de- Referringparticularly to Fig. 2, it will be notedl depth of this surface belowthe top of the flanges, 3,' is substantially equal only to the thicknessof the paper, or very slightly in ex- .cess thereof, so that when thepaper lies upon the platen, as shown in Fig. 2, its upper surface issubstantially flush with the upper surface of the flanges, 3. Near theedge, 5, the depressed surface is provided with a second transverseslot,

11, through which the web of paper, 9, is carried downwardly beneath thetable.

The roll of paper is rotatably mounted on resilient, dependent brackets,12 and 13, which are preferably spotwelded to the plate, l, at 14 and15, respectively. These brackets are designed to be sprung outwardly,for example to the position 13 in Fig. 4, so that a fresh roll of papermay be inserted between. These brackets are furthermore designed tofurnish some fricl tional engagement with the edge of the roll of paperor the wood core upon which the paper is rolled so that some resistanceis offered to the withdrawal of paper from the roll.

Beneath the slot, 11, a spring element, 16, having a continuous cuttingedge, 17, of the same length as the width of the paper web, ispreferably spot welded to the lower side of the plate,` as at 18 in Fig.2. This element springs upwardI ly and normally engages the bottom ofthe table, 2, as shown in Fig. 2, and the web of paper, 9, is carriedbetween the 4resilient cutting element, 16, and the bottomv of thetable, as shown at 19 in Fig. 2, so that, with the resistance to turningoffered by the roll, the paper is held iiat and tautly upon the surfaceof the platen. It is obvious, of course, that instead of engaging thebottom of the table, the spring element, 16, could engage'the'bottom ofthe plate. When it is desired to place a new scoring surface upon theplaten the spring element'is depressed to the position, 17', by pressingthe depending portion, 20, thereof. will relieve the grip on the paperand'permit the paper to be pulled through to the proper positionwhereupon the'springr element is released to return to the position,1'1, and the old score can be torn therefrom by aid of the cutting edge.100

Onlthe right side of the platen the plate may be provided with asemi-cylindrical depression, 21, adapted to hold a pencil and, ifdesired, this depression may`be provided with a clip element, 22, whichwill hold the pencil securely therein.

In ailixing my device to the table it is only necessary to cut anopening therein of a size conforming\approximately to the size of theplate without theflanges. Inasmuch as most tables are covered with acloth or other playing surface.

this cloth may be'raised within the areas which will be occupied by theanges of the plate and the table cut down slightly, as shown at 2d and25 in Fig. 2, and 26 and 27 in Fig. d. The cloth is then replaced andthe plate pressed down over the cloth and secured to the table by meansof screws, 29. In this way the plate is brought exactly flush with thesurface of the cloth and there are no projecting edges to interfere withthe sliding of the cards thereover.

While l have'described my invention in vits preferred embodiments, it isto be understood that the drawing is merely illustrative and that thewords which I have used in the body of the specification are words ofdescription and not nf limitation. Hence, changes within the purview ofthe appended claims may be made without departing from the true scopeand spirit of my invention in its broader aspects. f

-What I claim is:

^ l. A table having secured therein a scoring device comprising a metalplate having its marginal portions secured to said table with .the uppersurfaces thereof substantially flush with the surface of the said table,said plate being provided with two, spaced, parallel-disposed slotstherein, means secured to the lower side of said plate and adapted tosupport a roll of scoring paper thereon with its axis substantiallyparallel to said slots; whereby the paper from said roll may be threadedupwardly through one of 'said slots and downwardly through the other andlie upon said platen with its surface substantially in the plane of thesurface of the table; and a spring element provided with a cutting edgesecured to the under side of said plate adjacent the slot through whichthe paper passes downwardly and overlying and resiliently engaging saidpaper to hold the end thereof .in

position.

2. A table having secured therein a scoring device comprising a metalplate having its mari ginal portions securedto and substantially iiushwith the surface of said table; said plate being provided with spacedparallel-disposed slots therein; resilient, roll-supporting bracketssecured to the lower side of said plate adjacent one of said slots and.adapted frictionally to engage the ends of a paper roll supportedtherebetween, andra spring element provided with a cutting `edge securedto the lower side of said plate adjacent the other of said slots andadapted to overlie and' resiliently engage a web of paper exendingdownwardly through said slot to hold theA end thereof in position.

3. A table having secured therein a scoring .device comprising a metalplate having a anged portion secured to and substantially flush with thesurface of said table, .a slightly depressed platen portion within saidflanged portion 'and provided with two spacedparallel-disposed slotstherein, resilient, paper-roll supporting brackets secured to the lowerside of said plate adjacent one of said slots and adapted frictionallyto engage the ends of a paper roll supported therein,

and a spring element provided with a cutting 23, which is cemented tothel top of the table, 2,

edge secured to the lower side of said plate adjacent the other of saidslots and yeldingly engaging the lower surface of said table adjacentsaid slot; whereby paper from said roll may be threaded upwardly throughthe slot adjacent thereto and downwardly through said other slot andbetween said spring element and said table whereby its upper surfacewill be held tautly and lie substantially in the plane of the playingsurface of said table.

d. A table having a flat top surface and pro-y vided with an opening andhaving a peripheral recess surrounding said opening, an integral platehaving a flanged portion received in said recess and substantially flushwith the surface of said table and having a platen depressed below theflanged portion and the surface of said table a distance substantiallyequal to the thick, ness of a web of scoring paper, whereby when ascoring paper is placed upon said platen its -upper surface issubstantially level with the surface of said table.

5. .A table having a fiat top surface and provided with an opening andhaving a. peripheral recess surrounding said opening, an integral platehaving a anged portion received in said recess and substantially flushwith the surface of said table and having a platen depressed below theflanged portion and the surface of said table a distance substantiallyequal to thethick ness of a web of scoring paper, said plate beingprovided adjacent to the depressed portions with parallel disposed slotsthrough which a web of paper may pass.

6. A table having a ilat top surface and provided with an opening andhaving a peripheral recess surrounding said opening, an integral platehaving a'anged portion received in said recess and substantially flushwith the surface of said table and having a platen depressed below theflanged portion and the surface of said of said table and'having aplaten depressed below the flanged portion and the surface` of saidtable a distance substantially equal to the thickness of a web ofscoring paper, a rollon whicha web of paper may be wound supported fromthe lower side of said plate, friction means engageable with said roll,and a spring element provided with a. cutting edge secured to the lowerside of said plate adjacent to the slot through i which thepaper passesdownwardly and overlying and resiliently engaging said web to hold theend thereof in position on said platen.

HAROLD G.' VEEDER.

